Every year there is an aviation expo that takes place in March or April at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport. This event is SUN ‘N FUN, Spring Break for Pilots. Thousands of aviation enthusiasts, vendors, acrobatic performers, and of course pilots, flocked to LAL this year to enjoy the show.
But this year will be remembered as “The year with the storm”.
On Thursday, March 31st 2011 at around 2011 an EF-1 Tornado ripped through the airport and flipped, destroyed, damaged and mangled vehicles, structures, and airplanes. Luckily, no deaths were reported and the few injuries that were sustained were not serious.
Below are a few websites that only begin to show the extent of the damage received by these flying machines.
http://www.m0a.com/sun-n-fun-tornado/
http://www.barnstormers.com/eFLYER/2011/165-eFLYER-FA01-tornado.html
Video:
Type in “Sun n Fun 2011 Storm tornado” or any combination into your favorite search engine, and you’ll find plenty more pictures, and videos.
